F-16s flying escort to an F-117 attack/bomber
The F-16 is reguarded by many aircraft designers as the best fighter/interceptor aircraft in the market. Its maneuverability makes up for the little armoury it carries but it has proven itself competent in air to surface and air to air combat. Its low cost and high performance weapons systems make it an extremely valuable fighter for export to allied countries in Europe and Africa. The F-16 far surpasses the combat radius of any enemy fighter in use today. This is another aspect of the F-16 that makes it an excellent fighter for use in allied countries with very large or very small borders. Eg: In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly over 860 kilometers, attack a target, defend itself against enemy aircraft and return to it's starting point without refueling.
In 1976 the YF-16A was developed in a joint operation by General Dynamics and Lockheed-Martin. The first operational F-16A was delivered to the 388th Tactical Air Wing at Hill Air Force Base in Utah in 1979. after this, the two seater model, the F-16B was developed in which both cockpits are almost the same size as the single seat model. With multi-weapons capability, the F-16 can attack and bomb a target while holding off enemy fighter with it's superior firepower. Or, the F-16 can be used in CAP roles for ground forces.
Some Specs for the F-16
Builder-General Dynamics
Function-Multirole Fighter
Height-16 ftLength-49.05 ft
Wingspan-38.8 ft
Ceiling-50,000+ ft
Max. Range-1,740 nm
Max. Speed- Mach 2+
Max. Takeoff Load-37,500 lb
Armamant-M-61 Cannon, Aim-9 Sidewinder, Aim-7 Sparrow
Electronic Countermeasure (ECM)pods, Munitions(bombs) (JDAM)
Cost-A/B-\\$30.1M, C/D-$34.4M
Date First deployed-Jan. 1979